Non-Alignment Movement – When India Initiated A Global Alliance That Kept Countries Away From Being Part Of Cold War

Formation & Early Days
Non-Alignment Movement was founded in Belgrade in 1961. The movement was largely conceived by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru along with Sukarno (Indonesia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) and Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia). The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement represented nearly two-thirds of the United Nations’ members and contain 55% of the world population.

Multiple formations and alliances have formed in the world based on political, strategic and economic considerations. Strategic and economic partnerships were the basis of formation of alliances in the post-soviet era. The pre-soviet era alliances were largely based on political considerations. Some of the biggest names in political alliances are NATO. India under the leadership of Nehru took the lead in the formation of a unique alliance that was welcomed by many countries. It was named as Non-Alignment Movement or an alliance that would not let countries sway into the temptation of joining either of the power blocks i.e United States or Soviet Union.

Importance of Non – Alignment Movement
Non – Alignment movement’s (NAM) importance might have faded today, but the need to maintain a center line on international alliances transcends time and is relevant till date. NAM provided a platform for newly independent countries, the freedom to charter their own course for economic growth and development. It galvanized the newly independent countries to maintain their sovereignty. NAM also played a pivotal role in thwarting the tensions during the Cold War and thereby reducing the chances of the Cold War snowballing into a Third World War. As more and more countries joined NAM, the chances of creation of more blocks of alliances and the subsequent chances for war reduced.

International Day For Abolition Of Slavery: Slavery In Independent India

Partner Story

An Army Colonel Is Changing Lives Of Thousand Of People From North-East Using White Bullets

Retiring after spending 32 years in the Indian Army, Col Chris Rego is helping change the destinies of hundreds of children in conflict-affected North East India through his “White Bullets” initiative. With this initiative, he hopes to bring peace and progress to communities across North East India.

Luminouswanted to bring out the Colonel’s story to the world to inspire and motivate others as it believes that education is a strong tool to empower women. It is supporting Col Rego’s cause through an initiative called #Luminaries – the brave people who stand up for causes like girl child education and make a difference in the society.

Col Rego’s journey started over a decade ago in Manipur when a tribal woman knocked on his door pleading for support for her daughter’s education. Touched by the woman’s story, Col Rego and his wife delved into their savings and arranged for the money for the girl’s education. Two years down the line, the woman returned, this time with a small pumpkin and a shawl that she had knitted, and all the money she had borrowed. Moved and realizing that their money could make lives rather than earn paltry interest, Col and Mrs. Rego embarked on a journey to arrange for sponsorship of many more underprivileged children.

Retiring from the Army, Col Rego took over as CEO of Sunbird Trust, a not-for-profit organization which he founded in 2014. The Trust now sponsor over 1,000 children in 21 locations acrossNorth East India. The centre of Sunbird Trust’s activities is at beautiful Ijeirong, Manipur.

Recognizing Col Chris’s immense work, Luminousacknowledged him as their first Luminary. Through this, they hope to bring more power to his elbow in the notable work he is doing. The Luminousteam travelled to remote Ijeirong village and installed solar products. These solar products will help in providing power to the entire campus 24/7 for the very first time.

The Logical Indian salutes Col Christopher Rego for his untiring efforts and leadership. His efforts are already having a cascading effect on people from across India joining the “White Bullets” endeavour. Quite amazingly, education, in itself so empowering, is merely a means to PEACE. We hope the path illuminated by #Luminary Col Rego and his Sunbird Trust team acts as a beacon for others to follow.

If you too have stories of change, share them with us. And if you want to connect with Colonel Rego, click here.